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Chapter 2

Whenever he's free from his showbiz career, Joshua Socorro stays in Tarlac until his next movie or TV series. And whenever he's in Tarlac, he always spends his time at the bar and restaurant that he owns – the Pure Act Café.

Joshua hails from Tarlac City. He was born and raised there until their family moved to Manila when his father died during his second year in college. They needed a fresh start, and the Metro gave them the opportunity they were looking for, in the form of a showbiz career for him.

He was in his first year of college when his father started chemotherapy to treat his lung cancer. His parents lost everything they had because of his father's illness, which continued until he died a year later. As a result, Joshua was forced to stop studying and start working while her older sister finishes her studies. He has to give way to her.

Their parents did not come from a wealthy family. He's not like his former classmates in CPRU who came from affluent clans. His father was a lawyer, and his mother was a teacher and eventually, a housewife when she gave birth to his big sister. She chose to focus on taking care of their family. Their life was great that time and everything seems happy. Until his father became sick.

Their whole life turned upside down. Everything that they were accustomed to changed. Since his father could not work, his mother was forced to return to teaching. Joshua had to stop schooling, and his younger brother was transferred to a less expensive private high school. Like him, he also studies at CPRU and their tuition there is very expensive.

After his father died, Joshua continued working to pay off the debts they accumulated due to his father's illness. He accepted any job he could get even though it meant working in the companies owned by his classmates' families. As a result, his friends avoided him. Who would want to be associated with a college dropout whose family has gone from riches to rags?

But fate is still kind to them. He was twenty years old when a talent scout saw him during a shooting of a teleserye. He was hired as a talent. He performed well and the director was impressed, as well as the talent scout who discovered him. Because of that, he was given extended exposure in the said teleserye. One thing led to another, until he became a full pledged actor.

And the rest was history. They moved to Manila, and he was able to finish his studies through home schooling. He was twenty-five when he finished the Management course he started in CPRU. Too late for others, but still very precious to him.

All his dreams came true. He paid off all their debts, including the mortgage of their house. He was able to invest and buy additional properties and he paid for his younger brother's studies until he finished college.

He was also able to start a business with his friends James, Jeralhd and Mark, who are also members of the dance group he had been with during high school – the Pure Act Dancers. They named their business after their group since they first met and became friends during high school. Actually, the three are the only friends who did not leave him when their livelihood started crumbling.

Even though the three have their own businesses and corporate jobs, they are still able to manage Pure Act Café properly. He, on the other hand, helps in managing the place when he does not have work as an actor. That's how it has been since they put up the business three years ago.

"Looks like our superstar is not busy at the moment, hmm?" James said as he entered the office of Pure Act Café.

Joshua just smiled at him.

"Your movie is done?"

"Don't forget, on Valentine's Day, okay?" Joshua replied instead.

"I have a date on that day."

"I know."

It was a joke. James is currently not in a relationship, and he is the only legit single among the four of them. Jeralhd has a long-time girlfriend. Mark, on the other hand, doesn't have a girlfriend but he always has someone to mingle with.

"But Pure Act is not a human being, James. You can't date it."

James smiled. "You got me on that one."

James is the one who is always at the Pure Act Café, and this is because he has the most lax schedule among them. He has a lot of people working for him in their family-owned companies. James belongs to the elite de Vera clan. Their main business venture is the infamous Tarlac General Hospital. Though his cousins manage the said hospital, his family also has shares of stock, and his father and brother are both part of the board of directors. James rejected the position when it was offered to him because he preferred establishing his own business.

It was the main reason why Joshua agreed to venture on Pure Act. He knows James is good at running a company. He has established several businesses and even though they are small, they are really doing well. But Joshua knows that Pure Act is his favorite. That's the reason why James is always there.

"So, when's your new project?" James asked him.

"I just finished a movie, and you want me to start filming again?"

"You were like that before," James said. "You do not even stop."

That is true. He did not stop working especially when he finished school. He really persevered in his work, and the result were blockbuster films and high rating teleseryes.

"I guess I'm getting old."

James laughed at him. Joshua laughed as well.

"By the way," James said. "Recently, I talked to Ria."

Joshua frowned.

"You remember her, don't you?"

"Of course," Joshua answered. "How can I forget her? Almost one-third of my movies are based on her novels."

"Yeah… That girl really slayed the bestseller list."

"You bet she did…" Joshua said. "I'm just surprised that you got the chance to meet her."

"Right. It seems like she's not been in Tarlac for quite some time now."

"More like not here in the Philippines," Joshua said. "Where has she been recently?"

"Japan," James answered. "Anyway, so we got the chance to talk, and she said we never had a reunion."

"Coming from someone who rarely goes home," Joshua said laughingly.

James smiled at what he said. "Yeah… but, I just thought, she has a point. Right?"

Joshua contemplated at what James said. "Right." They never really had a reunion since they graduated ten years ago.

"We never attend the annual homecoming."

CPRU has an annual homecoming party for its high school graduates. It is like an annual gathering of all alumni no matter what batch they graduate. And since the batches are mixed, not many people go to that homecoming. Only the batch sponsoring the party for that year are somehow complete.

"Well, it doesn't quite feel like a reunion because it's not for a specific batch."

"Yeah…" James agreed.

"But the reunion is a good idea," Joshua said.

"I agree, but only for our class."

"Wow! Ten years! It's been a long time since we've seen our classmates."

"We always see you." James smirked.

"How about Joven?"

"Oh… yeah, right." James suddenly remembered their classmate who is a famous talk show host.

"All right, count me in," Joshua said.

"Ria wants to organize the reunion, but of course, she needs help."

"Well, if I'm not busy with work, I can help."

"Okay, I'll tell her."

It was five when Joshua decided to leave. James stayed because he said he would meet some of his college friends. That is not unusual for James, since he normally stays late at the bar whenever he has free time. He even tends the bar himself sometimes when he's in the mood. That is actually one of the reasons why he put up that business. He has this passion for mixing cocktails and bartending in general.

Joshua was walking to his car when he saw a girl crossing the street. His car was parked on the side of the road that is why he could see the highway in front of the bar. The girl seems to be on her early twenties. But what caught Joshua's attention is the sound of a fast, incoming vehicle.

Joshua looked at the direction of the vehicle. It is an elf truck, and it is moving very fast. It is heading to the direction of the girl. He suddenly panicked when he realized what is about to happen.

"Look out!" he shouted to the young lady.

But the girl seemed shocked. She just looked at the incoming vehicle and she wasn't able to move away. Adrenaline rushed through Joshua's veins as he ran towards the girl, grabbing her and dodging the truck that stopped after almost hitting them.

Joshua and the girl landed on the side of the road. When he was sure that they are safe from danger, he looked at her to check her status.

"Are you okay?" he asked worriedly.

The girl looked at him. "Joshua Socorro."

There is something in the way the girl looked and smiled at him that made Joshua uncomfortable. He's used to being recognized by fans because he knows he's famous. But there is something strange about the way the girl smiles at him right now. He helped her stand up.

"Do you feel any pain? Should I take you to the hospital?"

The girl is just smiling at him. He felt more confused, so he just turned his back on her. After all, it seems like she is okay and not hurt by what happened. He just went to the truck to talk to the driver.

"I'll just talk to the driver who almost hit you–"

Joshua was stunned to see that no one is inside the elf truck. He looked around but could not find the truck driver. Actually, there is no one there at the moment. That is contrary to the scene that he saw when he went out of the bar to go to his car. Joshua clearly remembers that there were people outside the restaurant when he saw the girl crossing the street.

Weird, but the road is also quiet and empty. Joshua suddenly felt creeped out. Suddenly, the surroundings became eerie. There's something mysterious and uncanny going on, and what's more unsettling is that Joshua can't figure what it's about.

"Joshua Socorro."

Joshua saw the girl he rescued approaching him.

"Birthday: August 08, 1993. Father: Mr. Joseph Socorro. Mother: Mrs. Olivia Flores."

Joshua gaped at the woman. Of course, people already know those things about him especially since his personal life is quite an open book to his fans. But what's strange is the way the woman is speaking. It feels like she's a secret agent in a movie or TV series and she is discussing about her next subject.

"Siblings: Jessica, two years senior; Jacob, three years junior."

"Who are you?"

Joshua is restless. Something seems strange about this woman. He just can't figure out what it is.

The woman answered his question. "Actually, you people call me a lot of names. Future... Chance... Fate...; but the most popular of all… is Destiny."

'Destiny…'

Now things are becoming more and more weird.

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